How life has changed in Maidstone

Maidstone's population increased by about 16,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 160,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Maidstone increased by 11.7%, from just under 139,000 to 155,000.

The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Maidstone was home to, on average, 2.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Maidstone

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Maidstone increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 12.0% of people in Maidstone are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Maidstone

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Maidstone was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.3 points.

In 2011, 28.8% of respondents in Maidstone gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Maidstone, 67.7% said they were Christian, compared with 82.4% in 2001. About 1.2% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.6% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 0.5% to 1.0%.

In Maidstone, 7.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Maidstone increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Maidstone by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Maidstone

The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.0%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Maidstone that rented privately increased from 7.7% to 14.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12.6%, while the percentage of Maidstone households that owned their home decreased from 77.3% to 70.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Maidstone increased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Maidstone, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Maidstone working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16.2% to 12.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Maidstone decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Maidstone, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Maidstone

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Maidstone, but at a slower rate than in Medway (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Maidstone).

In Maidstone, the proportion of single people increased from 26.3% in 2001 to 29.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Medway increased from 28.8% to 34.6%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Maidstone fell from 55.9% to 51.4%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.2% to 11.8%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Maidstone residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.4% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.2% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.9% to 12.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Maidstone decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Maidstone, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Maidstone, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.8% to 9.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37.9%) households had a married couple, compared with 42.7% in 2001. The percentage of households in Maidstone, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 10.7%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Maidstone increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Maidstone, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Maidstone

In 2011, 3.2% of Maidstone residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 1.4% in 2001. The 1.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 94.1% of people in Maidstone said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.4% in 2001. About 1.5% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.8% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.3% to 0.9%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Maidstone increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Maidstone residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.5% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 11.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Maidstone increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Maidstone, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Maidstone residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 2.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Maidstone remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Maidstone with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10.2% to 9.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.6%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.0% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Maidstone without children remained close to 59.7%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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